LONDON, Sept.23 (Xinhua) -- British travel giant Thomas Cook announced Monday it collapses after failed rescue attempts, leaving about 21,000 jobs worldwide at risk.

The company said in a statement that it has submitted application to the High Court for a compulsory liquidation "before opening of business today," adding that "an order has been granted to appoint the Official Receiver as the liquidator of the Company."

Peter Fankhauser, chief executive of Thomas Cook, said, "We have worked exhaustively in the past few days to resolve the outstanding issues on an agreement to secure Thomas Cook's future for its employees, customers and suppliers."

"Although a deal had been largely agreed, an additional facility requested in the last few days of negotiations presented a challenge that ultimately proved insurmountable," Fankhauser said.

Fankhauser said it was a "profound regret" for the rescue failure, adding that "This marks a deeply sad day for the company which pioneered package holidays and made travel possible for millions of people around the world."

The British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said it will "launch flying program to bring home Thomas Cook customers."

According to the CAA, all Thomas Cook bookings, including flights and holidays, have now been cancelled.

"There are currently more than 150,000 Thomas Cook customers abroad," said the CAA.

"Customers in the UK yet to travel must not go to the airport," it said, adding that it will "launch biggest ever peacetime repatriation."

The CAA noted that the government has asked it to launch a repatriation program over the next two weeks, from Sept. 23 to Oct. 6, to bring Thomas Cook customers back to Britain.

Richard Moriarty, chief executive of the CAA, said, "News of Thomas Cook's collapse is deeply saddening for the company's employees and customers, and we appreciate that more than 150,000 people currently abroad will be anxious about how they will now return to the UK."

"The government has asked us to support Thomas Cook customers on what is the UK's largest ever peacetime repatriation," Moriarty said.

"Unfortunately some disruption will be inevitable," said Moriarty. "We ask customers to bear with us as we work around the clock to bring them home."

Founded in 1841, the well-known Thomas Cook has some 21,000 employees and operates in 16 countries. Enditem

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